Cascade Hike

Here are pictures I took during a wonderful hike along Naches Trail near Chinkook Pass last week. It's an easy hike. In fact, my 7-year-old nephew led most of the way! It was his first hike and he didn't complain once during the 2-hour hike.

Missing - IF

I had fun with this. I love typography and so I designed with type. Take time to play with the piece and see if you can find the missing letters. Btw, I will not be online as much next week (does that qualify as missing?), so in advance, I appreciate your comments and may you find what is missing in your life....

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Missing".

Compare & Contrast

fallen into decay
you give way to the future
enveloped by life


This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Compare & Contrast".

Moon - IF

I've always been drawn to the moon. I remember riding in the car at night as a child, lying in the back seat gazing at the moon as the wheels spun down the dark roads. Even as it ducked behind trees, clouds and houses, it stayed faithful and followed along. The moon played with my imagination and it's a place I find comfort still.

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Moon".

Comfort

The life of one
blends into the hearts of many
never forgotten

Jennifer, I am sorry to hear of the passing of your father, I hope the love expressed through One Deep Breath brings some comfort to you and your family. My heart goes out to you. This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Comfort".

Flower Poem

The Seed

Grows
becomes what it is
inside.
Inching in sunlight
dotted with shadows
I grow petals.

I wrote this poem many years ago to reflect the inner growth and potential in all of us. I hope all of you blossom, even amidst the shadows. This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Poem".

Bodies of Water

bow, starboard, port
stay sail, main sail, jib sheet,
dodging ducks

This needs a little background to appreciate it. Tuesday evenings (May-Oct) on Lake Union is the Duck Dodge Race. I've never participated, but I get the impression these boats are racing around trying to NOT run over the little rubber ducks (and anything else that might be in its way, like a kayaker) to win the race. Of course, with the lovely summer weather we experience here, these sailors are doing more than racing, I'm quite sure.

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Bodies of Water".

Discovery

Discovery for me can expand into such a depth as far-off galaxies and yet, self-discovery can also take us to places of great depth. This is a piece I created when I started playing around with the brush library in Illustrator. I see it as an "outer space" piece.

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's prompt is "Discovery".

Feathered Friend

weeks high in a tree
you spent waiting to use your wings
and sharp talons

I would see this bird high in a large tree for weeks during the spring on my walks along the river. When one day it actually took flight, diving into the river with those extremely sharp talons. I don't think it caught anything, but it was a joy to see it take flight and survive (I saw it again after that), but it's been months and I haven't seen it. At first I thought it was an eagle or hawk, but upon further investigation I think this is an Osprey Fledgling.

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Feathered Friends".

Shadows & Light

leaves splashed with sunlight
creating shadowy patterns
simple houseplant art

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Shadows & Light".

Twist - IF

It took me a while to think of something for this week's prompt - Twist, and then it came to me. A yoga twist! Of course, I've been a practitioner for 10 years and a teacher for the last four. Twists are so beneficial, releasing toxins, strengthening the spinal muscles and toning the abdominals, to name a few. This particular asana (pose) is Matsyendrasana.

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday.

Buddha Light

Bugs & Creepy/Crawlies

It's your lucky day
as my heavy foot just missed you
wooly caterpillar

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Bugs & Creepy/Crawlies".

Wildflowers

bright yellow blossoms
become tart Oregon-grape berries
jelly in the Fall

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Wildflowers".

Rejection -IF

This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Rejection". Most of us have felt rejected; small, void of color, lonely, left out, knowing everyone else is having a great time. But, then again, we see the "outside" of people, we really don't know what they are concealing. Remember, we are all connected. Find compassion in your own heart for yourself and others...

Verdant Embrace

greeting us as we
return to your verdant embrace
gateway to home

Happy First Birthday!! Susan and Jennifer at One Deep Breath have opened their hearts by offering a weekly haiku prompt for a year now. I truly appreciate their generosity and the community of poets they have brought together. It's like returning home to warmth with every visit and I learn something about myself and the other poets with every prompt. Thank you!

Architecture

your lovely shape
lures my hands to balance to you still
ocean guardian

---

it takes patience
and subtle movements to perch you
gone by high tide

Ever since I discovered Andy Goldsworthy, I've been fascinated with balancing rocks. I am deeply moved by the shapes of rocks and the essence of each one and how they "come alive" when placed in a way we don't normally see them. It all started in 1996 while on a trip to Hyder Alaska with my Uncle. We were camped along a river down from Salmon Glacier during salmon spawning season and as many of you know, this attracts bears. We had seen more than a handful of big black bears down the road a bit and a grizzly across the river. Well, this dampened my wandering spirit, thus, I stayed close to camp (like within 20 yards of the van!) And to keep myself occupied, I started stacking rocks, and have been ever since. The beach in Baja were I go, is mostly rocky and it's absolute heaven for me. It's a very zen practice, so I say give it a try! This is one from my recent trip.

This is in gracious response to
One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Architecture".

Your Paradise - IF

This is "Summer Breeze", a piece in my "Floral/Whimsical" line, that I have for sale and will be included in a group show later this month. I created it in Illustrator and it's printed with archival pigmented inks on fine art paper that is made from 100% cotton. I like this piece because I can imagine myself hanging out on the beach or a sailboat, drink in hand, watching the world move in a peaceful flow, letting go of all worries, as the sun warms my soul. This is posted in response to Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Your Paradise".

Baja

View of surfers from balcony (yes, they're tiny) ;p

Beach Art - one of the many "rock sculptures" I made

Stone Duck

Pool overlooking the Pacific

"The Guardian"

Point Break for awesome surfing

View from balcony looking South

Shoreline looking South

A few pictures from my week in Baja. My Aunt and Uncle own a condo with spectacular views. I had a very mellow time hanging out with them and spending time on the rocky beach. This is south of Rosarito Beach.

Common Ground

"no habla español"
aware of the language barrier
broken by sharing food

I spent last week in Baja, enjoying a very mellow holiday. I met some Mexican folks who invited me to their camp. It naturally was hard to communicate, since I speak very little Spanish and their English was just as poor. However, we ate mussels they had gathered from the ocean, smoked on the fire, and that indeed was an intimate moment, shared by all, despite the language barrier.

This is in gracious response to
One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Common Ground".

Nurture

your face glowed with joy
as your little legs tried to kick
to help push the swing

will you remember
Auntie pushing you in the swing
when you're my age?

A day I'll always cherish. This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is "Nurture".

Photo by: Miguel

Citrus - IF

I love citrus. It's one of those foods that really quenches my thirst. Plus, I like to cook with lime and it's so tasty in a gin and tonic and mojito ;)

This is an Illustrator piece I created in response to the weekly challenge at Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Citrus".

Voice

Can you hear
my whisperings between
blades of grass.

Can you feel
my vibrations move
through the earth.

Can you smell
my sweet scent
lingering in moist air.

Can you taste
my flavor, unlike
your normal fare.

Can you touch
my smooth surface
awakening your fingers.

Can you love
my heart deeply
embracing all of me.

Can you hear
my whisperings between
your heartbeat.

I've included this for Poetry Thursday. The random generator prompt was "Voice".

Sleep

dotted in sunlight
a garden creature enchanted
fast asleep

in the garden I
sat waiting for the flowers to bloom
sleeping I missed them


This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath.

Urban Farmers

We dug and sifted
dug and sifted,
unearthing artifacts
from the World's Fair.

Brown linoleum
and sea-green tile
filled our pockets.
Rocks filled our buckets
and wheel barrows too.

Piles upon piles
of round, spotted stones
sprouted everywhere.

Cigar-sized worms
lived among them,
a treaure of our labor.

As we dug and sifted
dug and sifted,
piles upon piles
of moist dark earth
surrounded us.

I wrote this poem in May of 1996 and read it at the opening ceremony for the Queen Anne P-Patch. Some city officials were there and it was a lovely sunny afternoon. But, I must explain a bit about this poem's inspiration. The plot that was designated for this community garden was covered with blackberry bushes, and at one time the dumping ground for debris collected while building the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair. Thus, all the interesting stuff we discovered and hard work it entailed. I've also included this for Poetry Thursday. Thanks to all of them!

Sea

I yearn to sleep
in your rocking arms, your whisper
a sailor can hear


This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath, this week's prompt is "Sea". I feel fortunate to have lived near the water most of my life. Part of my childhood and adulthood was spent near the Chesapeake Bay. Most of my adult life I've been around the Puget Sound. I can spend hours combing the beach and getting lost in the sights and sounds. I love walking the shoreline, hearing the waves and scent of saltwater. The shorebirds are a delight to watch.

Remember - IF

Swinging flooded her with happy memories! This topic comes at an appropriate time as I have had memories surfacing, mostly those deeply rooted ones, that have remained hidden, mingling with pain. So it is a joy to recall those happy times when innocence and imagination ruled.

This is a Photoshop/Illustrator piece I created in response to the weekly challenge at Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Remember".

Happy Buddha

healing sun rays
caress me with blissful splendor
happy Buddha



I've also included this for Poetry Thursday. Thank you.

Earth Day

I love to consume
and see you overflowing
garbage dumpster

can we continue
to rape you with our selfishness
precious Mother Earth

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath, this week's prompt is "Earth Day"...."Be creative, be proactive."

I've also included this for Poetry Thursday. Thank you.

Be sure to check out the Ecological Footprint Quiz that helps put one's individual use of planetary resources in perspective. It indicates ones usage in acres needed to sustain one's life style rather than a carbon footprint. And factors in more than just autos and electricity.

Bipolar - IF

This is an Illustrator piece I created in response to the weekly challenge at Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Polar". I decided to focus on Bipolar Disorder because, it is a reality many people live with, and my attempt is to bring a sense of the place some people who suffer from this may go at times. I can only imagine the challenges this brings to one's soul.

Thinking Blogger Award

I was tagged and awarded the "Thinking Blogger Award" by the wonderful, Ruby who is a fabulous woman that blogs out of Malaysia. I find her very uplifting and full of life. Thank you, Ruby for the award ;)

Now, I am to select 5 bloggers whom I feel deserve this award. It's hard to choose, but I just let them come to me, not 'thinking' too much about it as many bloggers make me think! For those awarded - see the participation rules at the end of this post.


Studio Lolo (Laurel) blogs out of Pacific Grove, CA. She is a fantastic artist who inspires me on many levels. The incredible paintings she posts for Illustration Friday are always moving, but she also includes heart-felt stories to go with her paintings. She is a retired veterinary technician and her love for animals is quite evident. I'd say she's a advocate for animal rights and has a heart of gold. Thank you, Laurel for all your kindness you share with us. "Replenishing Her Spirit" is the piece that really drew me to her.



Steve shares beautiful photos from New York City. I connected with his images immediately. His sensitivity to light drew me in and upon further investigation, I learned we have much in common; we both are attracted to Zen Buddhism, he doesn't watch TV, he has a concern for the well-being of others and I imagine he 'walks softly on the earth', giving our mother earth consideration. This is quite evident in his gorgeous photographs. I am always moved by his posts. Thank you, Steve, for your inspiration. This is the photo that caught my eye upon my first visit to his blog.



Lyrically Yours (Cathy Delaleu) is a moving and gifted writer out of New York City. Her way with words is breathtaking and her style is woven in sensuality. She recently published her book of poetry, "Wrapping Thoughts Beneath Emotive Rain". In addition to enjoying Cathy's poetry, I look forward to her down-home gratitude list. She makes me smile, cry and want to embrace myself and the world with such honesty and care she brings to fellow bloggers. Thank you, Cathy for taking me deeper into myself.



Cergie (Lucie) shows her lovely images from Cergy le Haut: Val d'Oise-Ile de France :France. I love exploring France through her blog. She has an incredible eye and I find her photos very intriguing. She shares interesting tidbits about her culture in her comments on my posts, so I am always learning from her. I admire her for posting in two languages! Lucie is very spirited and she brings joy to my life. Thank you, Cergie...Lucie. ;) This is the photo that caused me to pause and find out more about her.



Layla (aka Barbara) comes out of S. California and has several blogs. I found her at Gone But Not Forgotten, a cool blog dedicated to rock musicians that have died between 1969 and the present. Her love for classic rock goes deep. She took me back to my youth. Later I discovered her blog Writing From the Inside Out, that is filled with fun, thoughtful posts prompting questions which provoke one to express from the inside out. It's evident, her concern for others and our struggle through life. Barbara I find refreshing, thank you.


The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.

Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking!

Sunlight

waiting all winter
to open into your warm embrace
sunlight

Photosynthesis (photo=light, synthesis=putting together) has always fascinated me. Generally, it is the synthesis of glucose from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water, with oxygen as a waste product. It is arguably the most important biochemical pathway known; nearly all life depends on it. It is an extremely complex process consisting of many coordinated biochemical reactions.

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath, this week's prompt is "Energy".

Fortune - IF

It's always interesting getting one's fortune told by a palm reader. It's been ages since I've had mine read. Regardless whether one believes in this, you can still take time to look at your hand, examine the lines, shape and texture. Imagine how many hands you’ve held with it. What stories do your hands have to tell?

This is an Illustrator piece I created in response to the weekly challenge at Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Fortune".

Bridge of Life

molded by seasons
of joy and sadness, I have walked
the bridge of life

midway through my life
I come ready, ripe for changes
I cross the bridge

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath, this week's prompt is "Bridges".

I've also included this for Poetry Thursday. Thank you.

Green Vines - IF

leafy patterns
swirling and twirling
looking out my window

This is in response to the weekly challenge at Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Green".

Light Through Clouds

Spring Sounds

our afternoon walk
through the breezy arboretum
pink petals whispering

---

my shuffling feet
on the path, almost as noisy
as the chirping bush

This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath, this week's prompt is "Spring/Fall Songs".